Italy · italy-ev-charging-chain2-grid-integration-arera

ARERA Opens Proceeding to Integrate EV Charging Infrastructure with Grid via Chain 2 Channel and CIR Certification

Consultation

FLEXIBILITY MARKETSN/AEV charging infrastructure integrationChain 2 communication channel standardizationSmart charging controller (CIR) certificationCollective private charging infrastructureGrid/retail tariff framework for new usage typesDemand response and flexible connection contracts

1Problem identified

2Consultation

3Proposal

4Regulatory review

5Decision

6Implementation

7Go-live

8Market impact

What changed

ARERA deliberation 352/2026/R/eel (6 October 2026) formally opens a new regulatory proceeding, to be completed by 31 December 2027, aimed at (a) facilitating development of EV charging infrastructure in non-publicly-accessible locations that optimizes use of existing electricity networks, and (b) promoting complete, efficient and non-discriminatory use of the Chain 2 communication channel. One or more consultation documents will be published to prepare the resulting measures.

Why it matters

The proceeding will set new technical and tariff rules governing how distributed EV charging points (private and collective) interact with distribution networks, standardize Chain 2 channel activation by service providers, and operationalize mandatory CIR (Controllore Infrastruttura di Ricarica) certification under RED III transposition (d.lgs. 5/2026), effective 1 January 2027. This affects retail tariff design, demand-response/flexibility aggregation, and distributor-service provider coordination at scale as charging point volumes and Chain 2-capable device installations accelerate.

Design impact

Price formation●○○

Cross-border capacity○○○

Liquidity●○○

Operational security●●●

Market participants●●●

Affected markets

Retail electricity marketDistribution network tariff frameworkEV charging infrastructure marketLocal flexibility resource aggregation

Who is affected

Distribution system operators (DSOs)EV charging infrastructure operators/service providersAcquirente Unico S.p.A. (Sistema Informatico Integrato gestore)Final domestic/residential customersCIR device manufacturersRemote Operators (RO)

MD analysis

This is a greenfield proceeding bridging retail tariff design, metering communication infrastructure (Chain 2), and emerging smart-charging flexibility standards (CIR/CEI 0-21 Annex X). It responds to RED III transposition deadlines forcing mandatory smart-charging certification from 1 January 2027, while also addressing structural tariff inefficiencies for individually-connected private charging points versus collective infrastructure, and operational heterogeneity in Chain 2 activation by distributors flagged by service providers since 2025-2026. The proceeding explicitly links to ARERA's 2026-2029 Strategic Framework consultation (244/2026/A) on Grid Package alignment, flexible connections, and demand-response contractual innovation, suggesting broader retail/tariff reform is likely in subsequent consultation documents.

Rule / framework

ARERA deliberazione 352/2026/R/eel, implementing RED III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) via decreto legislativo 5/2026 (Art. 23); building on deliberazione 87/2016/R/eel (Chain 2 definition), deliberazione 541/2020/R/eel (pilot low-power charging initiative), deliberazione 115/2022/R/eel and documento di consultazione 540/2023/R/eel (charging infrastructure tariff criteria), and legge di bilancio 2018 amendment to d.lgs. 102/14 (centralized Chain 2 activation via Acquirente Unico)

Next milestone

Mandatory CIR certification obligation (Art. 23, d.lgs. 5/2026) under CEI 0-21 Annex X enters into force for new/replaced non-public charging points · 1 Jan 2027

Primary sources

ARERA · REGULATOR · 2026-10-06

352/2026/R/eel — Avvio di procedimenti per l'implementazione di iniziative regolatorie tese a favorire un'efficiente integrazione tra le reti elettriche e le infrastrutture di ricarica dei veicoli elettrici

Open primary source ↗

arera-352-2026-r-eel